Surrey head into the third day of an enthralling Second XI Championship clash with Kent on top at LSE
Opener Josh Blake hit 51 to help the Three Feathers into a slender first innings lead before the Surrey bowlers made early in-roads to leave Kent six down with a lead of 113 at the end of the second day.
Surrey resume on 88/3, with Blake quickly moving to his half-century. An over later, he was gone as Evison had him caught behind to leave Surrey 99/4. Left arm seamer Ethan Rice had left-handed batter Ollie Hunt caught behind for 13.
Yousef Majid (26) and Ollie Gibson (32) put on a handy sixth innings partnership of 57 to take Surrey to 172 before Gibson was caught of the off spin of Birdi. Majid was caught in the slips two runs later. Herath (12) and Stuart-Reckling (17) kept the scoreboard ticking, before a 27-run stand between Alex French (12*) and McLoughlin (17) for the tenth wicket took Surrey into the lead, eventually ending with first innings lead of seven.
Seb Stuart-Reckling made early inroads for the second innings in a row, reducing Kent to 17/2 inside five overs. He pinned Shazil Malik leg before in his second over before Harby was trapped in-front for 7.
The experienced Joey Evison and Ollie Morgan once again offered stiff resistance for the visitors. The pair added 58 for the third wicket before Jack Martin had Evison caught behind for 31. Three overs later, Martin pinned Morgan lbw for 34 to leave Kent 84/4.
Majid found turn and bounce to find the outside edge of Curtiss’ bat before Ollie Gibson pinned Rice lbw to leave the visitors 96/6.
Birdi (20*) and Burgess (4*) negotiated the final few overs to take the visitors to 120/6 at stumps. A dramatic third day is in store tomorrow, with Kent leading by 113 runs in the third innings of the match.
